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DID YOU KNOW THESE FACTS ABOUT NEW JERSEY?

As of the census of 2010, there were 8,791,894 people residing in the state.

On February 15, 1804, New Jersey became the last northern state to abolish new slavery and enacted legislation that slowly phased out existing slavery. This led to a gradual scale-down of the slave population. By the close of the Civil War about a dozen African Americans in New Jersey were still apprenticed freedmen. New Jersey voters initially refused to ratify the constitutional amendments' banning slavery and granting rights to the United States' black population.

In the 1960s, race riots erupted in many of the industrial cities of North Jersey. The first race riots in New Jersey occurred in Jersey City on August 2, 1964. Several others ensued in 1967, in Newark and Plainfield. Other riots followed the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in April 1968, just as in the rest of the country. A riot occurred in Camden in 1971. As a result of an order from the New Jersey Supreme Court to fund schools equitably, the New Jersey legislature reluctantly passed an income tax bill in 1976. Prior to this bill, the state had no income tax.

New Jersey is one of the most ethnically and religiously diverse states in the country.

The New Jersey State Quarter, released in 1999, with a depiction of Washington Crossing the Delaware.The Bureau of Economic Analysis estimates that New Jersey's total state product in 2006 was $434 billion.

Its Per Capita personal income in 2008 was $54,699, 2nd in the U.S. and above the national average of $46,588. Its per-capita income is the third highest in the nation with $51,358. The state also has the highest percentage of millionaire households. It is ranked 2nd in the nation by the number of places with per capita incomes above national average with 76.4%. Nine of New Jersey's counties are in the wealthiest 100 of the country.

Somerset, New Jersey – “There is no limit to how much you can achieve if you don’t worry about who gets the credit,” Kenneth A. Gibson told a crowd of nearly 2,000 who gathered at First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens (FBCLG) on Sunday to thank him for his historical significance in their lives. Gibson, the first black mayor of a major Northeastern city and the first black president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, was mayor of Newark, New Jersey from 1970 to 1986.

Lauded for his calm, pragmatic leadership style and for unifying a city torn apart by race riots and political corruption, the emotional Gibson tribute was launched with reenactments and other tributes from FBCLG youth and the music and arts ministry. With echoes of Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On?” still ringing in the air, Rev. Dr. DeForest B. Soaries Jr., FBCLG senior pastor, noted how important it is to pay tribute to people while they are alive to accept the appreciation.

“I just can’t tell you how humble I am that you see the significance,” Soaries said, before introducing other current and former New Jersey mayors and political representatives who also attended. Later, Soaries emphasized the political climate that made Gibson’s win even more extraordinary, including the fact that Newark had become predominantly black by 1966 when Gibson first ran for office but lost, facing heavy opposition from other black leaders who preferred the status quo.

“On the night he won there was dancing in the streets but a police officer was so angry that a black man would now run the city, he pulled a knife on me and held it in my back,” Soaries said, noting that he was at the time an 18-year-old college student who had come to Newark to help register people to vote. “Because of Mayor Gibson, Prudential decided to stay in Newark. Public Service kept its headquarters in Newark.”

Others also spoke of the strong foundation built by Gibson, who was called a trailblazer, pioneer, dynamic leader and history maker. Gary Williams read a tribute from U.S. Senator Cory Booker, who also served as mayor of Newark. Soaries sent regrets from Trenton Mayor Eric Jackson, who was unable to attend due to the flu, and introduced former Trenton Mayor Doug Palmer.

“We know that you made it possible for me to stand here, for President Obama to lead for two terms,” said Reva Foster, chair the New Jersey Black Issues Convention (BIC), who presented a proclamation. “Sixteen years he and his family sacrificed so that we can have what we do today…. (It’s been) thirty-four years of BIC standing on your shoulders, and 32 organizations around the state that want to say thank you, sir.”

Camden Mayor Dana Redd, who spoke on behalf of the 20 or so current African American mayors in New Jersey, said that Gibson “demonstrated what leadership looks like” and inspired generations.

Gibson noted how impressed he is with today’s black leadership, including Soaries who he called “a leader without competition.”

“We were born in Enterprise, Alabama and when we got to Newark, they didn’t know what to do with us young black folk,” Gibson recalled. “I was eight years old in third grade and teachers didn’t know what to do with us. I came out of a little school house in Enterprise and ended up teaching half the class.”

While Gibson praised young people and encouraged them to remember the giants upon whose shoulders they stand, he also said African Americans, in particular, must always vote.

“I listen to the people in this country today who are struggling with craziness and I say to them, we struggled to get the right to vote,” Gibson said. “There is no reason we shouldn’t always register and vote. We all stand on the shoulders of giants and I’m very proud to have been able to continue the legacy they left for us. And to you, young people, don’t ever forget there is no limit to what you can achieve if you don’t worry about who gets the credit.”

Soaries closed the service with a powerful sermon on “turning stumbling blocks into stepping stones,” drawing parallels between what Elizabeth had to go through before giving birth to John the Baptist and Gibson’s struggles. “Each of us lives with a smile in one pocket and a tear[drop] in the other.…There’d be no value in joy if there was no presence of sadness. You can’t have victory without struggle,” Soaries preached. “God has the capacity and the desire to turn barren into blessings, to turn tragedy into triumph. That’s what this man from Enterprise, Alabama represents. That’s what Elizabeth teaches us.”

The Gibson tribute was part of the FBCLG Black History Month and 80th anniversary “Living the Legacy” celebrations. The full service was live streamed and is available under Sunday Worship February 19, 2017 11:20 a.m.: http://media.thechurchonline.com/fbclg/index.php

About First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens (FBCLG)
Founded in 1937, First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens is a vibrant community-focused, multi-cultural and historical African-American church rooted in Baptist doctrine and is located in the Somerset section of Franklin Township, NJ. The church's motto is "Faith in Action." FBCLG bears witness to the gospel of Jesus Christ for spiritual, educational, economic and community transformation. For more information, visit www.fbcsomerset.com.

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Franklin Township, New Jersey – Representatives from Lyft, an app that easily connects riders and drivers, will meet with a group of prominent black pastors on Thursday, Nov. 10, 2016, as part of efforts to recruit more drivers of color and provide even greater opportunities for transportation services to underserved communities, Rev. Dr. DeForest B. Soaries, Jr., announced today. The pastors will be among some 2,500 people gathered in Central New Jersey for the 5th Annual dfree® Financial Freedom Conference.

Soaries said Lyft will meet with his mentor group as the start of an effort to connect Lyft with even more black pastors across the nation to help them learn about Lyft’s community involvement practices and philosophy and to help overall driver recruitment. Lyft also will be honored for their impressive impact on communities, particularly communities of color, where they provide: flexible earning opportunities; transportation to jobs, medical appointments and other important destinations; and corporate partnership support. The award ceremony will take place at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 11, 2016 at First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens (FBCLG), as one of the highlights of the 5th Annual dfree® Financial Freedom Conference.

“More than half of all Lyft drivers are people of color,” said Soaries, dfree® Creator and founder of the dfree® Global Foundation, Inc. “Many people don’t understand the dramatic impacts that entrepreneurship and economic development opportunities like those Lyft is providing have on poor and underserved communities. Such models allow people to start solving their own problems, which ties in directly with the dfree® philosophy.”

Over 2/3 of drivers (66.3%) identified as part of a minority group and 25% of those drivers identified as Afro-Caribbean or African American

88% of African American drivers indicated that they have given a ride to a neighbor

Over 98% of African American passengers agreed or strongly agreed that Lyft rides are safe, friendly spaces.

“We also know that many urban communities lack reliable transportation and flexible earning opportunities, particularly those that encourage entrepreneurship,” Soaries said. “For a relatively young company, Lyft has an outstanding record of serving the needs of communities of color and low-income neighborhoods. We need more corporations to join Lyft in focusing on these issues.”

Soaries said that Lyft provides cultural competency training to its managers, partners with many nonprofits, provides free rides for important causes and provides specific incentive to help low-income people become part of the company. He also said Lyft’s 2015 economic impact report shows that 45% of Lyft passengers say they spend more money with local businesses because they are able to use Lyft and that 74% go out more frequently or stay out longer because the service is available. Lyft users also saved about 3.9 million hours or an estimated $125 million in hours that they would have otherwise used waiting for other transportation or walking and it’s estimated that Lyft carpools could save governments billions.

“The study shows that small business owners are using Lyft to supplement their incomes and support their businesses,” Soaries said. “Programs like Lyft’s Express Drive, which connects non-car owners with GM so that they can become drivers, helps individuals become drivers but also helps entire neighborhoods have access to safe, affordable transportation. What’s important is not just one factor but the comprehensive nature of the service. People who have been disenfranchised for decades now have the opportunity to reconnect with their own neighborhoods and with greater economic opportunities.”

The “Say Yes to the Next Level” conference, Nov. 10-12, 2016, is intended to motivate existing dfree® participants to accomplish their goals and to attract new audiences. The conference will encourage participants to reevaluate personal values, habits, attitudes and relationships in order to prepare themselves to move toward financial wholeness. The $40 registration fee for the conference includes lunches and can be submitted online via: http://bit.ly/2cLAyxb. The “Say Yes to a Brighter Future” youth conference for high school and college students Nov. 12 is free and registration is available: http://bit.ly/2e8aZF8.

The conference also features a power-packed lineup of speakers and performers, including:

The dfree® Financial Freedom Movement is a practical yet holistic approach to financial security that exposes root causes of negative financial habits and provides financial literacy, faith-based methods and community support to help individuals achieve and maintain financial success. The informative, uplifting and celebratory financial freedom conference is being held at FBCLG, 771 Somerset Street, Somerset, New Jersey 08873. The conference includes concerts, networking, youth activities and dfree® training and support. Sessions are available for beginners through seasoned dfree® participants.

About dfree®:
Founded in 2005, dfree® is a financial freedom movement that addresses the cultural, psychological and spiritual influences on financial wellness and offers practical strategies for achieving financial success. dfree® was featured by CNN in a 90­minute documentary, “Almighty Debt,” an installment of the “Black in America” series, hosted by Soledad O’Brien. The dfree® strategy is being used by hundreds of churches and organizations worldwide. For more information about dfree® visit www.mydfree.org and follow the hashtag, #dFreeNextLevel, on social media.

About Soaries:
Rev. Dr. DeForest B. Soaries Jr. is known as an active agent for change and is a widely-requested speaker. He is the Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens in Somerset, New Jersey and former New Jersey Secretary of State. His pastoral ministry focuses on spiritual growth, educational excellence, economic empowerment and faith-based community development. Soaries, author of Say Yes to No Debt: 12 Steps to Financial Freedom, has issued a Billion Dollar Challenge as a national initiative and free resource to help individuals and families collectively pay down $1 billion in consumer debt.

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Disclaimer:
The articles on BlackCityinfo.com are provided as a community service and to be used for information purposes only. BlackCityinfo.com does not accept any responsibility or liability for the use or misuse of the article content. Use the above information with caution and at your own risk.

No Endorsement:
BlackCityinfo.com does not endorse or recommend any article on this site or any product, service or information found within said articles. Resources/links that may be included in said articles are only suggested as sources for the reader to explore but we can't confirm or take responsibility for it's accurateness. The opinions and views of the authors who have submitted articles to BlackCityinfo.com belong to them alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of BlackCityinfo.com.

The New Jersey General Assembly 2011 Black History Month Celebration.

Lorenzo Evans Teaching part 1 of Soul Food in New Jersey at Kenny J's Beginner Line Dancing Brunch.

They're quite a lively duo - sisters Kathy and Betty Dixon, owners of Kingdom Sea & Soul in Paterson. They are the creators of the Soul Rolls, and their desserts are to die for! Kingdom's Sea & Soul was one of five stops on the Munchmobile's soul food trip.

DEMOGRAPHICS & QUICK FACTS

Demographics of New Jersey

By Race

White

Black

American Indian

Asian

Hispanic

total population

68.6%

13.7%

0.3%

8.3%

17.7%

Because Hispanics could be counted in other races, the totals above could possibly be more than 100%. If you would like a detailed listing of all ethnic groups in the U.S., please Click Here.

We here at BlackCityInfo.com have endeavored to provide you with accurate content from third parties, but
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